BROOKINGS – Coming off a solid win over Bismarck on Friday night, another win for the Blizzard on Saturday would have clinched a Central Division playoff spot for Brookings.

But it wasn’t meant to be as the Bobcats built a three-goal lead en route to a 5-3 win over the home team at Larson Ice Center.

Matthew Barry and Alex Pollock found the back of the net in the first period as Bismarck led 2-0 after the first 20 minutes.

Mitchell Walinski’s goal midway through the second pushed the Bobcats’ lead to three goals, but the Blizzard came back less than three minutes later to get on the scoreboard.

Taylor Schneider lit the lamp with 6:42 on the clock in the second to make it 3-1, but Barry notched his second goal of the game with 22 seconds left to send the visitors into the locker room leading 4-1 through two.

Cade Borchardt and Brandan Aird assisted on Schneider’s tally.

Schneider scored his second goal of the contest with 12:39 to play in the game, but Barry countered with a short-handed hat-trick goal three minutes later to push the Bobcats’ lead back to three at 5-2.

John Siebenaler and Borchardt set up Schneider’s second goal.

Doug Larson provided with the final margin with less than seven minutes left as Brett Callahan and Connor Koviak earned assists to narrow the margin to two goals, but Bismarck held on to even its season record at 28-28-1-1, with 58 points.

The Blizzard, who held a 36-26 edge in shots, dropped to 28-25-4-1 with 61 points.

Brookings travels to Aberdeen on Friday and then plays host to the Wings on Saturday at LIC to close out the regular season.

With just two regular-season games remaining, a Brookings’ win or a Bobcats’ regulation loss will clinch a postseason berth for the Blizzard.

Bismarck 5, Brookings 3

Bismarck                     2 2 1 – 5

Brookings                    0 1 2 – 3

First Period

Scoring: 1. Bismarck – Matthew Barry (Tristan Ashbrook, Jiei Halliday), pp, 9:22. 2. Bismarck – Alex Pollock (Kevin Ness, Jiei Halliday), 2:53. Penalties: BK, Cameron Teamor (Tripping), 11:25; BK, Connor Koviak (High Sticking), 10:11; BK, Too Many Men, 0:21.

Second Period

Scoring: 3. Bismarck – Mitchell Walinski (Kevin Ness, Alex Pollock), 9:34. 1. Brookings – Taylor Schneider (Cade Borchardt, Brendan Aird), 6:42. 4. Bismarck – Matthew Barry (Cooper Haar, Jared Resseguie), 0:22. Penalties: BI, Tanner Vescio (Interference), 17:29; BI, Zach Kennedy (High Sticking), 13:08.

Third Period

Scoring: 2. Brookings – Taylor Schneider (John Siebenaler, Cade Borchardt), 12:39. 5. Bismarck – Matthew Barry (Jiei Halliday, Tanner Briendenbach), sh, 9:37. 3. Brookings – Doug Larson (Brett Callahan, Connor Koviak), 6:52. Penalties: BI, Jared Resseguie (Interference), 10:11; BK, Brandon Kruse (Holding), 9:23; BK, Cade Borchardt (Cross-checking), 5:17.

Power Plays – BIS: 1-5; BRK: 0-3. Shots – BIS: 11-8-7–26; BRK: 11-13-12–36. Saves – BIS, Camden Haugenoe 33; BRK, Josh Boyko 21.